Role of the Government in promoting healthy eating

I wish someone would offer me a low fat slice of cake to have with this cuppa!

Public Health

Public Health is concerned with the whole community rather than just the individual.

The public health approach :• Promotes health & prevents disease by managing community’s

environment• Promotes healthy lifestyle• Targets populations that are particularly vulnerable to disease or

malnutrition• Requires collaboration of the public, consumers, policy makers and health

professionals as well as the involved organisations (government and non-government organisations)

The role of the government in promoting healthy eating

• To respond to immediate health issuesE.g. through raising awareness, increasing funding to

particular medical areas

AND

• To develop policy and guidelines that will address future health issues

E.g. The Australian Guide to Health Eating

SIGNAL

The Strategic Inter-Governmental Nutrition Alliance

The nutrition part of the National Public Health Partnership

Aim: to direct and coordinate national nutrition strategies.

Four Main Focuses of SIGNAL1. Develop and implement national public health and

nutrition strategies - eg Eat Well Australia

2. Promote vegetable and fruit consumption

3. Develop, promote and evaluate national guidelines - eg The Australian Guide to Healthy Eating

4. Develop communication and information sharing networks.

Main initiatives developed by SIGNAL

• Eat Well Australia• The Australian Guide to

Healthy Eating• The Dietary Guidelines

for Australians

• Developed by SIGNAL• A public health nutrition framework & agenda• Aim: to improve nutrition in Australia and reduce the burden of

diet related disease• HOW???

– By taking a national approach to public health nutrition, it allows greater consistency and organisation of government policy and strategy across Australia.

Eat Well Australia 5 main health priorities

• Preventing overweight and obesity• Increasing the consumption of vegetables and fruit• Promoting optimal nutrition for women, infants and children• Improving nutrition for vulnerable groups

- Eg rural and isolated populations, low income groups and Indigenous Australians

• Addressing structural barriers to safe and healthy food.

Government Strategies to address the Eat Well initiative ‘Promote healthy eating in school aged

children’

• Go for 2 and 5

• Kids Go for Your Life

• Dietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents

• Nutrition programs in schools

• Body image and eating disorder programs

• Healthy school canteen policies/programs

• Review of the Code of Advertising during children’s television

• Kids in the Kitchen Project

• Market gardens in schools

• Traffic lights in labeling.

What are some Government Strategies to address the other Eat Well initiatives??

• Promoting vegetable and fruit consumption:

• Promoting healthy weight:

• Promoting good nutrition for mothers:

• Improving nutrition to vulnerable groups:

Dietary Guidelines for Australians

• Provide advice to the general population about healthy eating

• Because we have different dietary requirements at different stages of the life span they have developed:

– Dietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents in Australia

– Dietary Guidelines for Australian adults

– Dietary Guidelines for older Australians

The Australian Guide to Healthy Eating

• Funded by the Commonwealth Department as part of the National Food and Nutrition Policy.

• An educational tool to help Australians to develop the skills and knowledge necessary for choosing a healthy diet

• Based on the Australians Dietary Guidelines and the Recommended Dietary Intakes (RDIs)

• 5 segments to represent the food groups in proportions necessary for a varied and nutritious diet

• Accompanied by a guide of what is a serve of eachfood group and how many serves you require daily